Rochester Speaks

Rochester Speaks
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Rochester Speaks is Rochester, NY’s go to podcast spotlighting the people, nonprofits, events, and local history shaping the Greater Rochester community. From Rochester NY community events and local nonprofits in Monroe County to inspiring stories, volunteer opportunities, and good causes across Western New York, we connect you with what’s happening right here at home. If you’re looking for ways to get involved, support Rochester charities, or stay informed about positive local impact, Rochester Speaks from Warm 101.3 brings you the heart of the community one conversation at a time.

  1. Billboard Art ROCs Is Bringing Color, Joy and Student Art to Rochester's Most Visible Spaces

    1D AGO

    Billboard Art ROCs Is Bringing Color, Joy and Student Art to Rochester's Most Visible Spaces

    Joan Margaret, artist, art teacher at the Memorial Art Gallery and founder of Billboard Art ROCs, joins the show to talk about what happens when you combine a love of color, a commitment to community and a drive down a gray stretch of 490 after COVID. Discover how Billboard Art ROCs got its start when Joan noticed how dismal the messaging around her felt on her daily commute and decided to do something about it, eventually placing her vibrant floral paintings on digital billboards around Rochester and receiving emails from strangers whose days were turned around by what they saw. Learn about her ongoing Have a Heart Hidden Heart Daily Painting Challenge for Charity, a project where hidden hearts are embedded in every painting and proceeds go to local organizations including the Center for Youth and Mount Hope Family Center. The initiative has grown to include students from the Memorial Art Gallery winter camp, Rochester City schools and charter schools, with the goal of getting community created artwork up on billboards in the neighborhoods where those students actually live. Joan also shares how the vinyl from completed billboard installations is being recycled into billboard art bags by a local artisan, keeping the materials out of landfills and generating revenue to fund more programming. Joan also teaches creative workshops for all ages at the Memorial Art Gallery, from five year olds to an 84 year old current student, with scholarships available for those with financial need. All class listings are available through the Memorial Art Gallery website under creative workshops. To learn more about Billboard Art ROCs, get involved or inquire about sponsorship visit joanmargaret.com or email info@joanmargaret.com.

    18 min
  2. Free Summer Concerts, a Classic Car Show and Resort Style Living. The Highlands at Pittsford Is Inviting Rochester In.

    1D AGO

    Free Summer Concerts, a Classic Car Show and Resort Style Living. The Highlands at Pittsford Is Inviting Rochester In.

    Maria Sommerville, Director of Marketing and Community Outreach, and Bethany Creager, Sales and Marketing Assistant, join the show to share what life looks like at the Highlands at Pittsford, an affiliate of the University of Rochester set on 52 beautiful acres just outside the village with a short walk to the Erie Canal. Discover how the Highlands serves residents from age 62 to 104 across cottage homes, independent living apartments, assisted living and a brand new memory care wing, offering a true continuum of care so residents can age in place without uprooting their lives. With over 300 activities available every month, an indoor pool, a personal trainer, University of Rochester professor lectures and regular Eastman School performances, the community feels less like a facility and more like resort style living centered on the whole person. The Highlands has a full summer of free community events open to everyone. The Summer Gazebo Concert Series runs every Thursday in July except July 2nd from 6:30 to 7:30pm, featuring the RPO Brass Quintet on July 9th, Indigo Breeze on July 16th, Elton John tribute Croc Rock on July 23rd and Uptown Groove with Mo Dancing on July 30th. The beloved annual Classic Car Show returns August 6th from 6 to 7:30pm with over 50 vehicles expected, music by Beck and the Bobcats and free food for all. Classic car owners interested in displaying their vehicles are encouraged to reach out. The Highlands Holiday Market is also coming November 19th from 10am to 2pm with local vendors and free admission. Wait list spots for cottage homes and apartments are available now and the team encourages families to get on early given growing demand. Call 585.641.6380 or visit thehighlandsatpittsford.org to schedule a tour or learn more.

    17 min
  3. Rochester Hearing and Speech Center Is Changing the First Five Years for Hundreds of Local Children

    1D AGO

    Rochester Hearing and Speech Center Is Changing the First Five Years for Hundreds of Local Children

    Dr. Sara Calus, Director of Educational and Clinical Services at Rochester Hearing and Speech Center, joins the show to talk about the work happening every day with Rochester's youngest and most vulnerable children, and why the first five years of life are the most important window to pay attention to. Discover what early intervention really means, a state funded play based program that sends physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and special educators into homes to coach parents and support children ages zero to five with developmental delays, communication challenges, sensory processing differences and motor development. Rochester Hearing and Speech Center is the only nonprofit with a footprint in Monroe County still providing these services, doing so despite state reimbursement rates that have barely budged since the program launched in 1993. As of this morning 743 children in Monroe County are on the waiting list for services they qualify for but cannot yet access. Dr. Calus explains how the whole child approach at Rochester Hearing and Speech Center means therapists are not just working on one skill in isolation but collaborating across disciplines to address gross motor, sensory processing, communication and cognitive development all at once. Parents are coached at every visit so that progress continues throughout the week, not just during the hour a therapist is present. Parents with questions about their child's development can call 753-KIDS to request an evaluation, speak with their pediatrician or attend the free guided play dates held the first Saturday of every month at the facility. All families of young children are welcome. The Superhero 5K and Family Fun Run is Sunday June 7th at Seneca Park. Walk, run, roll or stroll, come dressed as your favorite superhero and celebrate the kids who face every challenge with extraordinary determination. Register and learn more at rhsc.org. Sonnet 4.6

    13 min
  4. Get Outside This Earth Day. Rochester Ecology Partners on Where to Go and Why It Matters.

    APR 17

    Get Outside This Earth Day. Rochester Ecology Partners on Where to Go and Why It Matters.

    Just in time for Earth Day, Chris Widmaier, Executive Director of Rochester Ecology Partners, joins the show to talk about what it means to help all people find nature where they live, work and play across the nine county greater Rochester region, and why that mission has never felt more urgent. Discover the Nature Rx movement, a growing practice where doctors and mental health practitioners prescribe time in nature as a medical intervention, with 70% of participants completing their prescriptions and reporting measurable improvements in wellbeing. Chris shares how Rochester Ecology Partners partnered with the Harley School and the Brown CRT Pediatric Research Foundation for a week long exploration of the health benefits of nature, including a trip to Cornell, a public lecture on mental health and outdoor research, and a family Vitamin N Day at the park complete with kite flying, creek critters and nature scavenger hunts. Chris also shares three Rochester nature gems worth visiting right now, Braddock Bay for the spring raptor migration and owl woods, Genesee Gateway Park downtown where 72 bird species have been documented throughout the year, and Black Creek Park on the southwest side, a hidden gem that feels far away even though it is not. Registration for the Growing Good summer youth program in collaboration with Food Link opens today at 5pm. A Finding Nature Friday drop in event takes place next Friday at the Rochester Ecology Partners office on Mount Hope, with book, plant and seed swaps and Earth Day activities. A free community fundraiser picnic is also coming in early June. Sign up for the newsletter and explore all summer programming at rochesterecologypartners.org.

    14 min
  5. Webster Chamber's Business Person of the Year on Why Giving an Hour Changes Everything.

    APR 16

    Webster Chamber's Business Person of the Year on Why Giving an Hour Changes Everything.

    When Julianne Groff was asked to apply for the Executive Director role at Webster Comfort Care Home in 2021, her first reaction was that she was a social worker, not a business person. Today she is the Webster Chamber of Commerce 2026 Business Person of the Year, and her story is a reminder that leading with your heart is its own kind of business strategy. Discover how Julianne went from making referrals to Webster Comfort Care as a hospice social worker to running the organization, and why she believes that if your heart is truly in the work, the rest falls into place. Learn about the depth of her community involvement across church groups, the Webster Health and Education Network, Soul Sisters, Free Mom Hugs, the Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly, the women's club, the food pantry and her recent advocacy work for people living with long haul COVID. Julianne also shares a deeply personal story about how the Webster Museum became a monthly refuge for her and her father during his battle with dementia, a place where his long term memories came alive and connected them in ways nothing else could. That experience deepened her love for Webster and for the kind of community that makes those moments possible. Barry Howard, President and CEO of the Webster Chamber of Commerce, explains the criteria behind the Business Person of the Year award and why Julianne embodies everything the honor is meant to recognize. In keeping with chamber tradition a donation has been made in Julianne's name to a charity of her choice, the Webster Museum. Learn more about the Webster Chamber and upcoming volunteer and membership opportunities at websterchamber.com.

    16 min
  6. Anyone Can Become Addicted. Rochester's NCADD on What Every Family Needs to Hear.

    APR 16

    Anyone Can Become Addicted. Rochester's NCADD on What Every Family Needs to Hear.

    Most people picture addiction as something that happens to someone else. Jennifer Faringer, Director at DePaul's National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Rochester Area, joins the show to explain why prescription medications have made that assumption more dangerous than ever, and what every Rochester family can do right now to reduce the risk. Discover how the opioid crisis was fueled not by street drugs but by overprescribed pain medications, and how a legitimate post-surgery prescription can quietly become a pathway to dependence for everyday people with no history of substance use. Learn the critical difference between acute pain and chronic pain when it comes to medication risk, and why the conversation with your medical team about duration and alternatives matters more than most patients realize. Jennifer also addresses what to do when someone you love is ready for help, why the answer is right now and not tomorrow, and how Monroe County's Open Access program at Delphi Rise provides 24 hour assessment and referral for anyone who needs it. Recovery community resources including ROC Recovery and the CORE Center downtown are also available for those who are not yet ready for formal treatment. Unused medications sitting in your medicine cabinet are a risk not just to you but to everyone who enters your home, including children and visitors. Jennifer walks through two safe disposal options available locally including the Detour pouch for small quantities and Eco Park on Paul Road, which accepts any amount at no cost and no questions asked. Free harm reduction resources including safe medication lock boxes, disposal kits and Narcan are available through NCADD-RA at community health fairs throughout the region or by request at ncadd-ra.org.

    13 min
  7. 80 Years of Fighting Addiction in Rochester. The Work Is Far From Over.

    APR 16

    80 Years of Fighting Addiction in Rochester. The Work Is Far From Over.

    Founded in 1946, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Rochester Area is one of the three oldest addiction councils in the country, and this May it is celebrating 80 years of uninterrupted service to Monroe County. Jennifer Faringer, Director at DePaul NCADD-RA, joins the show to reflect on that history and look ahead at the work still to be done. Discover how the face of addiction has shifted dramatically over eight decades, from single substance dependence to polysubstance use, from the opioid crisis and the trajectory from prescription painkillers to heroin to fentanyl, to the return of cocaine, the rise of synthetic drugs and the often overlooked challenge of problem gambling. Learn why the legalization of marijuana created what Jennifer calls a tsunami of misinformation, and why legal and safe are not the same thing when it comes to driving, pregnancy or youth development. NCADD-RA does not provide treatment directly but maintains an updated treatment provider directory every six months and connects individuals and families to the right resources. If someone you love is not yet ready for treatment, Jennifer shares what you can do right now to be prepared for the moment they are, including peer support groups, recovery community organizations and the resources available at ncadd-ra.org. The 80th Anniversary Luncheon is Thursday May 15th at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Jefferson Road. Register now at ncadd-ra.org.

    11 min
  8. Cigarette Butts Are the Most Littered Item on Earth. Rochester Is Doing Something About It This Earth Day.

    APR 10

    Cigarette Butts Are the Most Littered Item on Earth. Rochester Is Doing Something About It This Earth Day.

    Just in time for Earth Day, Lindsay Kremers, Community Engagement Coordinator, and Lindsay Kaya, Youth Engagement Coordinator at the Smoking and Health Action Coalition of Livingston and Monroe Counties, join the show to talk about something most people never connect to environmental health, tobacco waste. Cigarette butts are the single most littered item worldwide and the filters inside them are made from cellulose acetate, a plastic that does not biodegrade under normal conditions. When they end up in soil and waterways, they leach toxic chemicals that harm wildlife and ecosystems. Add to that the staggering statistic that the tobacco industry cuts down roughly 600 million trees every year for paper and packaging, and the environmental footprint of smoking becomes impossible to ignore. The conversation also covers the growing environmental challenge of e-cigarettes, which combine lithium ion batteries, plastic casings, nicotine cartridges and packaging into a disposal nightmare, and the rise of Zyn pouches, a highly concentrated synthetic nicotine product whose long term effects are still largely unknown. Monroe County's vape disposal program through Eco Park is one of the few such programs in the state. On Wednesday April 22nd at 6pm the coalition is hosting a tobacco litter pickup at Ontario Beach Park, meeting at the historic carousel. Gloves, bags and buckets will be provided. Anyone looking to quit can call the New York State Quit Line or text the Drop the Vape program for anonymous cessation support.

    15 min
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About

Rochester Speaks is Rochester, NY’s go to podcast spotlighting the people, nonprofits, events, and local history shaping the Greater Rochester community. From Rochester NY community events and local nonprofits in Monroe County to inspiring stories, volunteer opportunities, and good causes across Western New York, we connect you with what’s happening right here at home. If you’re looking for ways to get involved, support Rochester charities, or stay informed about positive local impact, Rochester Speaks from Warm 101.3 brings you the heart of the community one conversation at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Rochester Speaks
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Rochester Speaks